Memory data copying system for devices

ABSTRACT

A portable device is equipped with a broadcasting operating mode in which the broadcasting portable device executes a verbatim memory data image copying to another device or plurality of devices equipped with receiving modes of operation. Single-threaded OS free commands may be utilized to control both the broadcasting and receiving devices during a data copy session. In another aspect, a reprogramming system includes a symbol generator and a reconfigurable device. The symbol generator processes user input data to encode a reprogramming symbol, and the reconfigurable device reads the reprogramming symbol.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, ofProvisional Application No. 60/504,557, entitled, “Reprogramming SystemFor Portable Devices, filed Sep. 18, 2003, and Provisional ApplicationNo. 60/484,755 entitled, “Memory Content Copying System For PortableDevices,” filed Jul. 3, 2003. Both of the above provisional applicationsare incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to computer devices generally and specifically toa method and apparatus for replicating a memory data image of a sourcedevice's non-volitile memory in one or more destination devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the proliferation of portable devices such as portable dataterminals (PDTs), portable data assistants (PDAs) and cellulartelephones it has become necessary to share information between portabledevices or between a portable device and a host device. In a typicalapplication, a portable device is docked to a docking station incommunication with a host such as a PC. The PC is then actuated totransfer a computer file to the portable device, or the portable deviceis actuated to transmit a computer file to the host.

Formatted computer files or “formatted files” as referred to herein areavailable in a variety of different file formats. Execution files areavailable in the .EXE format. “Script files” are available in suchformats as .BAT, .JS, and .VB. Text files are available in the format.TXT and image files are available in such formats as .PDF, .TIF, .JPG,.BMP and .PNG. Audio files are available in such formats as .MP3, .WAVand .AVI and .MID .XML is a computer file format that can supportexecution files, scripts files, text files, image files, audio files, orcombinations of the above types of files. These types of files may bestored in a file system such as Intel's Persistent Storage Manager(IPSM) System. Certain types of files including dynamic link librariesDLLs, executable programs, and critical data files can be stored as partof a devices operating system, also referred to as a kernel.

In portable devices, data is typically transferred from or to a portabledevice on a “file by file” basis. For example, an execution file (.EXE)may be downloaded from a host to a PDA. An image file (.JPG) may beuploaded from a cellular phone to a host. File by file copying methodsutilize the operating systems of both the sending and receiving device.

During copying of a file in one of the above formats from a sendingdevice to a receiving device, an operating system of the sending devicemust establish contact with the receiving operating system, specify thename and type of the file to be transferred, break the file down intomanageable size packets, and transmit the packets across the previouslyestablished connection. The operating system of a receiving deviceaccepts identifying information from the sending operating system,assesses available memory space location, and stores the data into suchmemory location that are otherwise not in use. Thus, while a “file byfile” transfer of data allows for a highly selective copy of informationfrom one device to another, the process is time consuming, especially ifseveral files have to be transferred.

“Assembly line” methods for transferring data to portable devices arefaster than a file-by-file transfer of data. In a typical back roommethod for programming a portable processor equipped device, a cable ishooked into a device motherboard and a memory content including a bootloader, an operating system (or “kernel”) and a file system is “flashedin” to the device. However, such back room methods of programmingrequire additional expensive hardware (such as a compact flash Ethernetinterface), do not offer flexibility of programming options, oftenrequire intimate familiarity with proprietary program code, and are notavailable to a customer who purchases a finished product.

A manager in an application in which several portable devices require asystem upgrade (e.g., a kernel upgrade) must send the devices back tothe manufacturer for upgrading or must undertake time consumingreprogramming processes.

There is a need for a method transfer of information from and betweenportable devices, which is high speed, flexible, and which can beutilized by the purchaser of a finished portable device to executesystem upgrades including file system and kernel upgrades.

In all of the above reprogramming methods, a set up of a communicationdevice is required. For example, if the reprogramming is to beaccomplished via a hard wire connection, a cable such as a USB orEthernet cable may be interposed between a host and a device, andappropriate communication interfaces utilized. If the reprogrammingmethod is to be accomplished via a wireless connection, a transceiverneeds to be configured to be in communication with a specific point of acomputer network. The above methods rely on the integrity and proper setup of communication devices to be successful. Reprogramming may fail ifthere is a problem in a communication device at any of several points ofa computer network

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is an improved system and method for rapidly copying amemory data image of a portable broadcasting device non-volatile memoryto one or a plurality of receiving portable devices.

A portable device is equipped with a broadcasting operating mode inwhich the broadcasting portable device executes a verbatim memory dataimage copying to another device or plurality of devices. By verbatimmemory data image copying it is meant that the address location of thedata copied is retained when copied so that the data has the sameaddress location in the receiving device as in the broadcasting device.

The copying of data from one portable device to another isadvantageously carried out utilizing infrared transceivers of abroadcasting device and a receiving device. Infrared transceivers can beoperated to transmit data at high speed, do not require a physicalconnection for operation, and allow several devices to be reprogrammedsimply by placing additional receiving devices in the line of sight ofthe broadcasting device.

According to the invention, a broadcasting device is operated in abroadcast mode and a receiving device is operated in a receive mode.Preferably, a single device is configured to be operated in either abroadcast mode or a receive mode.

During a data copying session, both a broadcasting device and areceiving device may be operated utilizing “single-threaded” commandswhich do not require a main operating system to be running to beexecuted. Utilization of such single-threaded OS free commands providesprecision control of memory devices (which is necessary for conducting amemory content copying), yet allows the display of useful menu optioninterface screens, message screens and prompting screens. Utilization ofsingle-threaded OS free commands also optimizes speed of communicationlinks involved in the copy session.

The incorporation of data copy session menu option screens and otherdisplay screens into a broadcasting device and a receiving devicegreatly enhances the flexibility of the data copying system. Forexample, if first and second receiving devices are programmed utilizingfeatures of the invention to have different receive configurations, theymay be programmed differently while simultaneously receiving the samedata broadcast.

In another aspect of the invention, a reprogramming system can include asymbol generator and a reconfigurable device. The symbol generator mayinclude a GUI development screen and a symbol encoder. Thereconfigurable device includes an optical reader unit, which reads asymbol generated by a symbol generator, and a control circuit operatingin accordance with a data stream-processing program. The controlcircuit, in executing the data stream processing program, may storeformatted file data into a memory of the reconfigured device inaccordance with information input into the GUI development screen.

In one application, the symbol generator is utilized to make areprogramming symbol which when read results in a text file beingdisplayed. In another application, the symbol generator is utilized tomake a reprogramming symbol which when read results in a song beingplayed. In another application, the symbol generator is utilized to makea reprogramming symbol which when read results in a browser opening aspecific web page. In another application, the symbol generator isutilized to make a reprogramming symbol which when read results in aradio being configured. In another application, the symbol generator isutilized to make a reprogramming symbol which when read results in aproduct being registered with a manufacturer. In another application,the symbol generator is utilized to make a reprogramming symbol whichwhen read results in formatted file being downloaded into the devicereading the symbol.

The symbol generator may vary the number of symbols that are producedfor accomplishing a reprogramming. If several symbols are required to begenerated and then read to accomplish a reprogramming the severalsymbols may be referred to as a reprogramming symbol set. Reprogrammingsymbols of a reprogramming symbol set may be printed on differentsubstrates, one of which is a “key” substrate whose distribution iscontrolled for security purposes. Reprogramming symbols of areprogramming symbol set may be successively displayed at a fixed pointof an electronic display.

These and other aspects of the invention will be described withreference to the ensuing drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of these and objects of the invention,reference will be made to the following detailed description of theinvention which is to be read in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system of the invention including abroadcasting device and plurality of receiving devices;

FIG. 2 a is an electrical block diagram of a device according to theinvention which may be configured either in a broadcast mode or in areceive mode of operation and FIG. 2 b is a system electrical blockdiagram including block diagrams of a broadcaster and a pair ofreceivers;

FIGS. 3 a-h are data copying session menu option user interface screensat various stages of a data copying session;

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b are memory maps illustrating various aspects of theinvention;

FIG. 5 shows an OS display screen of a portable device including icons,which may be selected using a pointer device;

FIG. 6 a is a schematic diagram of a reprogramming system including areprogramming symbol;

FIG. 6 b is a block diagram corresponding to the system of FIG. 6 a;

FIGS. 7 a-7 j are screen shots illustrating use of a GUI developmentscreen incorporated in a symbol generator of the invention;

FIGS. 8 a-8 c show examples of reprogramming symbols of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating operation of a reconfigurabledevice operating in a “symbol reading” reprogramming mode;

FIG. 10 is an example of a data stream corresponding to an encodedreprogramming symbol constructed by a symbol generator in accordancewith the invention;

FIGS. 11 a-11 c are block diagrams illustrating various implementationsof a symbol generator of the invention;

FIGS. 12 a-12 d are schematic diagrams illustrating implementations ofthe invention in which a reprogramming symbol is displayed;

FIGS. 13 a-13 e illustrate various substrates on which a reprogrammingsymbol of the invention may be disposed;

FIG. 14 illustrates an implementation of the invention in which areprogramming symbol is encoded to facilitate product registration;

FIG. 15 illustrates an implementation of the invention in which symbolsof a reprogramming symbol set are disposed on different substrates;

FIG. 16 illustrates various portable devices in which the invention maybe incorporated;

FIGS. 17 a-17 j are various views of an exemplary portable device;

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of a circuit board assembly ofthe invention facilitating device reconfiguration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A schematic diagram of a system according to the invention is shown inFIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a broadcasting portable device 10B and severalreceiving devices 10R1, 10R2, and 10R3. Devices 10 are incorporated inhand held housings.

According to the invention, broadcasting device 10B may be operated in abroadcasting mode and receiving devices 10R may be operated in areceiving mode of operation.

Broadcasting device 10B may be actuated to execute a verbatim memorycontent copying to one or several receiving devices 10R. By verbatimmemory copying it is meant that the address location of the data copiedis retained when copied so that the data copied has the same addresslocation in the receiving device as in the broadcasting device.According to the invention, a memory data image 50 is copied from abroadcasting device 10B to one or more receiving devices 10R. A memorydata image 50 herein refers to a memory content of memory 45 between twophysical address locations.

An electrical block diagram of a device, which may be utilized as eithera broadcasting device or a receiving device is shown in FIG. 2 a. Device10 may be an optical reader having an image engine includingtwo-dimensional image sensor 32 provided on image sensor chip 132 andassociated imaging optics 50. Image sensor chip 132 may be provided inan IT4000 or IT4200 image engine of the type available from Hand HeldProducts, Inc. of Skaneateles Falls, N.Y. Device 10 further includes aprocessor IC chip 140 such as may be provided by e.g., an INTEL StrongARM RISC processor, or an INTEL PXA255 Processor. Processor IC chip 140includes a central processing unit (CPU) 40. Referring to furtherfeatures of device 10, device 10 may include a display 13 d, such as aliquid crystal display, a keyboard 13 k, a plurality of radiotransceivers such as an 802.11 radio communication link 170, a GSM/GPRSradio communication link 171, a Bluetooth radio communication link 172.Device 10 may further include Infrared (IR) communication link 175.Keyboard 13 k may communicate with IC chip 140 via microcontroller chip57. Device 10 further includes a memory 45 including a volatile memoryand a non-volatile memory. The volatile memory of device 10 typically isprovided in part by a RAM 42. The non-volatile memory may be provided inpart by flash ROM 44. Processor IC chip 140 is in communication with RAM42 and ROM 44 via system bus 60. Processor IC chip 140 andmicrocontroller chip 57 also include areas of memory 45, volatile andnon-volatile. Control circuit 40 of device 10 includes memory 45 and CPU41. A non-volatile area of memory 45 within microcontroller chip 57 maystore a program for operating keyboard 13 k. Microcontroller chip 57 maybe termed a “keyboard controller.”

Processor IC chip 140 may include a number of I/O interfaces not shownin FIG. 2 a including several serial interfaces (e.g., general purpose,Ethernet, Bluetooth), and parallel interfaces (e.g., PCMCIA, CompactFlash).

For capturing images, control circuit 40 sends appropriate control andtiming signals to image sensor chip 132 and to FPGA 55 or anotherprogrammable logic device (e.g., an ASIC). FPGA 55 operating under thecontrol of control circuit 40 manages the transfer of image datagenerated by chip 132 into RAM 42. Control circuit 40 processes framesof image data to decode a bar code or a set of OCR characters, forexample. Various bar code and OCR decoding algorithms are commerciallyavailable, such as by the incorporation of an IT4250 image engine withdecoder board, available from HHP, Inc. The IT4250 decoder board decodessymbologies such as MaxiCode, PDF417, MicroPDF417, Aztec, Aztec Mesa,Data Matrix, QR Code, Code 49, UCC Composite, Snowflake, Vericode,Dataglyphs, Code 128, Codabar, UPC/EAN, Interleaved 2 of 5, RSS, BC 412,Code 93, Codablock, Postnet (US), BPO4 State, Canadian 4 State, JapanesePost, KIX (Dutch Post), Planet Code, OCR A, and OCR B.

Infrared transceiver 175 facilitates infrared copying of data, from aportable device in a broadcasting mode to a portable device in areceiving mode. Utilization of infrared transceiver 175 during a datacopying session allows data broadcast from a single broadcast device tosimultaneously be received by several receiving devices without any ofthe receiving devices being physically connected to the broadcastingdevice. Another wireless communication link such as link 170, 171, or172 may be used, or another wired communication link such as an Ethernetcable or USB cable.

An exemplary portable bar code reading device 10 which may be utilizedwith the invention is described with reference to FIGS. 17 a-17 i.Device 10, as shown in FIGS. 17 a-17 i includes a finger saddle 1728.Finger saddle 1728 is characterized, as best seen from the bottom viewFIG. 17 g, by a surface having a generally U-shaped configuration in adirection generally parallel to longitudinal axis, x, of device 10. Thegenerally U-shaped surface conforms to the natural contour of anoperator's relaxed finger. Further, the generally U-shaped surface offinger saddle 1728 extending in a direction generally parallel to axis,x, encourages an operator to balance device 10 on a side surface of anoperator's index finger. It is seen that there is no way a finger canconform to the generally U-shaped surface unless a side surface of theoperator's index finger lies in a plane that is generally parallel tolongitudinal axis, x. When a side surface of an operator's index fingerlies in a plane generally parallel to axis, x, the operator's hand isoriented in such position that the thumb of the operator's hand canreadily be maneuvered into a variety of positions on keyboard 13 k.Referring to further aspects of device 10 as shown in FIGS. 17 a-17 i,device 10 includes a stylus 1750, and a built in holder 1752 for holdingstylus 1750.

The capacity of device 10 to be reconfigured is enhanced further by theincorporation of certain hardware elements into device 10. A diagram ofa circuit board layout of device 10 is shown in FIG. 18. Device 10includes a motherboard 1802, radio circuit board 1804 and keyboardcircuit board 1806. Motherboard 1802 carries certain integrated circuitchip components such as processor IC chip 140. Radio circuit board 1804includes electrical components corresponding to a radio such as radio171. Keyboard circuit board 1806 carries electrical components ofkeyboard 13 k.

In prior art systems having multiple circuit board arrangements, circuitboards such as boards 1802, 1804, and 1806 are typically screw mountedonto one another. Screw mounting circuit boards 1802, 1804, and 1806onto one another improves the durability of the assembly including themultiple circuit boards. However, screw mounting of assembly componentsalso renders the process of disassembling the circuit boards timeconsuming.

In the present invention as shown in FIG. 18, circuit boards 1802, 1804,and 1806 are snap fit together using standardized circuit boardconnectors such as MOLEX circuit board connectors. Board connectors 1820and 1821 connect board 1802 and board 1804. Board connectors 1822 and1823 connect board 1803 and 1806 further included in the assembly 1800of the invention are sleeve connectors 1810 and 1812. Sleeve connectorscan comprise a rigid or semi-rigid insulating material and may compriseor consist of polycarbonate. Sleeve connectors 1810 and 1812 areconfigured to be form fit about board connectors 1821-1824. In anassembly process for assembling assembly 1800, sleeve connector 1810 isdisposed about board connector 1821 of motherboard 1802 before boardconnector 1822 of radio board 1804 is snap fit into board connector 1821of motherboard 1802. Likewise, sleeve connector 1812 is disposed aboutboard connector 1823 of motherboard 1802 before board connector 1824 ofkeyboard circuit board 1806 is snap fit into board connector 1823 ofmotherboard.

The inventors found that, in the absence of sleeve connectors 1810 and1812, a device 10 including a multiple circuit board assembly oftenfails a drop test wherein device 10 including a multiple circuit boardassembly is dropped from several feet onto a hard surface. The inventorsfound that during impact with a floor during a drop test, shear forcesalong force lines 1830, 1831, 1833, and 1834 in the plane of circuitboards 1802, 1804, and 1806 often destroy the interconnection betweenadjoining board connectors. Sleeve connectors 1810 and 1812 interferewith shear forces along force lines 1831 and 1834, and operate to keepthe connections between board connectors 1821-1824 in tact when device10 impacts a floor during a drop.

The thickness, T₁, of sleeve connector 1812 can be about the samethickness, T₂, of an adjoined pair of board connectors 1823 and 1824associated with connector 1812. Thickness T₁ can also be less than T₂provided sleeve connector 1812 is thick enough so that connector opposesan interface between a pair of connectors. Sleeve connectors 1810 and1812 are shown as being of a four-sided ring shaped configuration.Sleeve connectors 1810 and 1812 can also comprise U-shape, and L-shapeor another shape provided the sleeve connector is configured to oppose ashear force which would otherwise break a connection between a matingpair of board connectors.

With the combination of snap fit board connectors and sleeve connectors,assembly 1800 can be easily and quickly disassembled. Accordingly, itwill be seen that, with assembly 1800 and device 10 can readily bereconfigured to include new hardware elements. For example, if keyboardcircuit board 1806 includes an alpha based keyboard, assembly 1800facilitates an easy replacement of the alpha based keyboard circuitboard with a numeric based keyboard circuit board. Likewise, assembly1800 facilitates the easy replacement of radio circuit board 1804carrying a first type of radio components with another radio circuitboard carrying a second type of radio components. A new radio circuitboard can be snap fit onto motherboard 1802, and the connection betweenboard and board will be strong enough to withstand a drop test.

Referring again to system 5, system 5 is operable so that a memory dataimage of broadcasting device 10B is copied to receiving device ordevices 10R. Broadcasting device 10B can be configured in a broadcastmode while receiving devices 10R can be configured in a receiving mode.Typically, a single device is capable of being driven into either of abroadcast mode or a receiving mode. Thus, a certain device could be abroadcaster in a first data copying session and a receiver in a nextdata copying session.

An important aspect of the invention is that, during a data copyingsession, hardware components of device 10 such as display 13 d, keyboard14 k, and IR interface 175 may be controlled with “single-threaded”commands. Single-threaded commands are commands which follow a singleprogram path. When a single-threaded command is executed, control overCPU 141 is not relinquished until a procedure has been completed. Asingle-threaded program includes a plurality of single-threadedcommands. A single-threaded program does not require a request to anoperating system to acquire exclusive control over an area of memory 45or any peripheral device. Accordingly, single-threaded commands allowprecise control over devices that make up memory 45. Usingsingle-threaded commands to control display 13 d, keyboard 13 k, memory45, and interface 175 during a data copying session allows high-speedtransmission of data and the presenting of a user-actuatable option menuuser interface screen enabling a user to select between data copyingoptions. Preferably, commands used to control memory 45, display 34 d,keyboard 13 k, and communication link 170 of both broadcasting device10B and receiving device 10R during a data copy session are commandswhich, in addition to being single-threaded, are of a type that areexecuted without a main operating system running. Commands executed inthe absence of a main operating system running may be referred to as“operating system free” (“OS free”) commands. With a system mainoperating system running, commands are often executed in multithreadedfashion in accordance with the OS. Further, memory requirements of an OSrender more difficult the controlled copy of data from memory 45 of abroadcaster 10B to another device, and the controlled reception of amemory data image into a receive device 10R.

In the present invention, a replication or data copying utility isconveniently executed as part of a boot loader program. Broadcasting andreceiving modes of operation of device 10 are conveniently executed aspart of a boot loader program because whereas a boot loader program is aprogram which must be executed at some point during operation of device10 which does not require the device's main operating system forexecution, the replication utility of the invention is enhanced ifimplemented within programs of a broadcasting device 10B and receivingdevice 10R that do not utilize a device main operating system. Further,because the broadcasting and receiving modes of the invention utilizeconsiderable volatile memory during execution, it is useful to powerdown device 10 in order to clear memory 42 prior to execution of thebroadcasting and receiving modes.

A major function of a typical boot loader program in prior art portabledevices is to initialize hardware, configure system settings, configurememory, and load a kernel or operating system to transfer control ofcontrol circuit 40 to an operating system such as Linux, DOS, pocket PC,Windows CE, WINDOWS, VMS, OS/400, AIX, and X/OS.

More specifically, a typical boot loader program in portable devices (1)performs functions of a BIOS program, as in a PC, (2) initializes systemhardware including IO devices; (3) configures memory, timings,interrupts, and CPU speed; (4) arranges blocks of memory for receipt ofa kernel and (5) transfers control of control circuit 140 to a kernel(e.g., DOS, pocket PC, WINDOWS). When a prior art boot loader program isexecuted, a graphical user interface (GUI) is customarily presented to auser. Typically, at the completion of a boot loader program, a user maybe presented by a graphical user interface display screen 1100 ondisplay 13 d as presented in FIG. 5, which allows access to a variety ofprogram execution files. Operating in accordance with a graphical userinterface supported by an operating system, a pointer device 1102 ismade available to a user. A user moves a pointer over an ICON to actuatea selected execution program. Clicking on decode ICON 1104 commences abar code/OCR algorithm. Clicking on picture taking ICON 1106 commences apicture taking mode of operation in which device 10, on depression oftrigger 13 t captures an image, and outputs the frame of image data todisplay 13 d or another device without attempting to decode decodablesymbols therein.

A boot loader program, according to the invention, may be configured sothat the boot loader program of a broadcasting device 10B and areceiving device 10R are executed in a coordinated manner to carry out areplication (otherwise termed a memory data image copying) utilityaccording to the invention. Referring to FIG. 3 a, device 10 may beconfigured so that if device 10 is powered up without any keys ofkeyboard 13 k being depressed, then a “normal” boot up routine isexecuted. A “normal” boot up routine is characterized by an operatingsystem interface such as interface 1100 being presented to a user at thecompletion of the routine. If a designated special function key ofkeyboard 13 k is depressed when the device 10 is powered up, however,the replication utility boot up routine according to the invention isexecuted. Device 10 may be configured so that depression of specialfunction key 1202 at power up drives device 10 into a broadcast mode (inaddition to the customary hardware initialization and configuration)while depression of key 1204 at power up drives device 10 into a receivemode (in addition to the customary hardware initialization and systemconfiguration).

Referring to more specific advantages of utilizing OS free commands toexecute the broadcast mode, utilization of OS free commands assures thatspecific memory address locations of RAM 42B will be available tofacilitate the memory image data copying. By comparison, when a mainoperating system is running, the OS typically makes demands of RAM 42Bin ways that cannot easily be detected or controlled. As part of thememory data copying according to the invention, broadcasting device 10Bcopies a memory data image from ROM 44B into RAM 42B of a broadcastingdevice 10B, and then broadcasts the data over a communication link e.g.,link 175B to receiving device 10R. When copying data from ROM 44B to RAM42B (where the data is buffered prior to broadcast) CPU 41B ofbroadcasting device 10B (a) formats the data by encoding start addressdata, message length data and checksum data, (b) compresses the data;and (c) establishes synchronization packets. The compression schemeexecuted by CPU 41B may be, e.g., a run length compression scheme, or aGZIP compression scheme. CPU 41B could, in theory, broadcast data fromnon-volatile ROM 44B to receiving device 10R without storing the datainto RAM 42B of broadcaster 10B. However, the formatting, compressing,and synchronization packet forming would be rendered more difficult.

Referring to more specific advantages of utilizing OS free andpreferably single-threaded commands to execute a receive mode ofoperation, a significant advantage of OS free commands in a receive modeof operation is that receiving device 10R has available to it openblocks of ROM 44R into which receiving device 10R may store a new kernelmemory data image, if a new kernel memory data image has been requested.If receiving device 10R is operating in accordance with an operatingsystem stored in ROM 44R, it cannot, at the same time, write a newoperating system memory data image to the address locations of ROM 44Rat which the memory data image corresponding to the present operatingsystem is stored. Providing a receive mode of operation utilizing OSfree commands also lessens demands on RAM 42R, allowing CPU 41R ofreceiving device 10R to utilize RAM 42R for buffering received data sothat received data can be decoded and decompressed prior to being storedin ROM 44R of receiving device 10R.

Regarding both of a broadcasting device 10 b and a receiving device 10r, the control of display 13 d and keyboard 13 k with OS free commandswhich may be single-threaded commands, allows presenting of broadcastand receiving menu option user interfaces, while maintaining coordinatedcontrol over memory devices involved in data copying. The control of IRinterface link 175 or another link, e.g., links 170, 171, or 172 with OSfree commands, which are executed without a main operating systemrunning, allows the communication link to operate at a highest possiblespeed.

FIGS. 3 a-3 h show displayed menu option user interface screens ofbroadcasting and receiving devices of the invention during variousstages of a data copying session of the invention. FIG. 3 a shows abroadcasting device 10B displaying a broadcast option user interfacemenu screen 1200. User interface menu screen 1300 driven with OS freecommands displays various options to a user. Options 1302, 1304 are“kernel without file system” options. Option 1306 is a “file systemwithout kernel” option. IPSM, which stands for Intel Persistent StorageManagement system is a commercially available file managing systemavailable from Intel Corporation. Option 1310 is a “combined kernel filesystem” option. When a new kernel is made available, typically a newboot loader will be needed to boot up the new operating system.Therefore, a boot loader copy option is typically associated with a copyoption including copying of a kernel. In the option menu user interfacescreens herein “BLDR” designates a boot loader. A menu option isselected by pressing one of the redundant keys associated with theoption (a “7” or “I” key in the care of an IPSM option). A “boot loaderonly” or a “kernel only” option could also be displayed.

FIG. 3 c shows a receiving device 10R displaying a receiving menu optionuser interface screen 1400 which is also driven by OS free commands.Options 1402, 1404 are “kernel without file system” options. Option 1406is a “file system without kernel” option. Option 1410 is a “combinedkernel and file system” option.

The availability of multiple options greatly improves the flexibility ofthe data copying system. For example, if a user of a receiving device10R does not want a file system of a broadcaster but wants to retain allthe programs and data presently stored in the IPSM file system, he doesnot have to receive the file system of the broadcaster 10B. Further,options can be selected for purposes of increasing processing speed.Option 1302 and corresponding option 1402 (instead of option 1402 and1404) can be selected to increase copying speed if it is not necessaryto reconfigure the keyboard program of the receiving device 10R.

In order to execute a data copying session, the menu selection ofbroadcasting device 10B is coordinated with the menu selections of thereceiving or device 10R. Thus, if both the broadcaster and receiver arein a “kernel without file system” operating modes, then a kernel ofbroadcaster 10B will be copied into receiving device 10R. If both thebroadcaster and receiver are in a “file system without kernel” operatingmodes, then a file system of broadcaster 10B will be copied intoreceiving device 10R. If both the broadcaster and receiver are in a“combined kernel and file system” operating modes, then both a kerneland file system of broadcaster 10B will be copied into receiving device10R. Importantly, the data copying will still operate even ifbroadcaster 10B is configured to broadcast more data than the receivingdevice is configured to require. Referring to FIG. 1, receiving device10R1 and receiving device 10R2 may be configured to have differentreceiving requests, but still be reprogrammed by receipt of the samedata copying broadcast of broadcast device 10B. Thus, receiving device10R1 may require a new file system and a new kernel, receiving device10R2 may require only a new kernel, and yet both devices 10R1 and device10R2 may be reprogrammed simultaneously in a single data copyingsession, with a single broadcast by broadcaster 10B.

During execution of a data copying session, the broadcasting device, viaexecution of OS free and preferably single-threaded commands stores theselected memory content into a RAM 42 of the broadcasting device. Whilestoring data from ROM 44 to RAM 42, broadcaster device 10B formats andcompresses the data, and assembles “synchronization packets” forbroadcast. “Synchronization packets” assembled by broadcaster mayinclude: (1) 32-bit flag word that contains a specific bit pattern; (2)version number of replication utility; (3) model number of broadcasterdevice; (4) size of broadcaster's flash memory in units of megabytes;(5) total data bytes to be broadcast following the sync packet; (6) thenumber of firmware images contained in the data (1-4); (7) a bit-map ofwhich images are contained in the data; (8) an array of firmwaredefinition structures; (9) spare bytes for future enhancements; and (10)32-bit checksum word.

Items (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) are used by receiver 10R to assess itscompatibility with the broadcaster 10B. Items (6), (7), and (8) identifywhich pieces of firmware are being broadcast. Item (10) is used to makesure that the sync packet was correctly received.

A “firmware definition” structure (Item (8) above) may contain: (a) atype flag that identifies the firmware (One of “BLDR,” “KERL,” “KYBD,”IPSM”); (b) the physical address in flash where this firmware starts;(c) the length of the firmware image; (d) the offset from the start ofthe broadcast data block where this image can be found; (e) the lengthof this image in the broadcast data block; (f) checksum of the dataimage; (g) firmware revision; and (h) spare bytes for futureenhancements.

A receiving device 10R via OS free single-threaded commands (1) analyzesthe broadcast information respecting the memory copying; (2) analyzesbroadcast data for checksum errors (3) assesses the adequacy of its ownmemory; and (4) temporarily buffers received data in its RAM 42 prior tostoring the data in flash ROM 44. The receiving device 10R may determinethat there is an error in broadcasting and reject a broadcast if: (a)broadcaster 10B is a different model number than receiver 10R; (b) thebroadcaster replication version is incompatible with the receiver'sversion; (c) a broadcaster data block is too large to fit in thereceiver's memory; (d) the broadcaster is not sending a required pieceof firmware; (e) the broadcaster's IPSM is a different length than thereceiver's IPSM allocation; and (f) there is a checksum error in areceived data block.

FIGS. 3 b-3 h show prompting and other messages that may be displayedduring a data copying session. Message 1602, FIG. 3 b can be displayedby a broadcasting device 10B after one of options 1302, 1304, 1306, and1310, is selected. Message 1602 includes an indication at 1604indicating the number of times the broadcast has been executed and at1606 the duration of the last data copy session. At 1610, the size ofthe various data of broadcaster 10B is displayed. An important featureof the invention in one embodiment is that the user can be reprompted toreexecute a broadcast after completing a first broadcast. Thereby,several “batches” of receiving devices 10R can be reprogrammed.

Referring to FIG. 3 d, message 1802 is a message that may be displayedby receiving device 10R immediately after one of options 1402, 1404,1406, or 1410 is selected. Referring to FIGS. 3 b-3 g, message 1802,message 1902, message 2002, and message 2004 may be displayed byreceiving device 10R when receiving device 10R begins receiving abroadcast. Messages 1802, 1902, 2002, and 2102 confirm that data copyingis active. If a user sees one of messages 1802, 1902, 2002, or message2102 being displayed, a user is aware that physical movement ofreceiving device 10R could interrupt a data copying. Referring tomessage 1902, “Checking Sync Packet . . . ” message 1802 indicates thatchecking of synchronization packet is occurring. Referring to message2002, “KYBD, BLDR, KERL, IPSM” message 2002 indicates the type of datathat is being received. Referring to message “Receiving Data Block:error=0X0; Verifying received data . . . ” message 2102 indicates thetype of error if there is an error in the data reception. Receivingdevice 10R can be configured so that if an error is found, receivingdevice 10R displays an error message on display 13 d indicating an errortype and then reverts to a state in which it waits for a data packet inwhich case it displays message 1802.

When receiving device 10R successfully completes the reception of data,it may display message 2202 as indicated in FIG. 3 h. The heading“Programming . . . ” of message 2002 indicates that receiving device 10Rhas successfully received a broadcast from broadcaster 10B and thatreceiving device 10R may be moved aside to make room for a new receivingdevice 10R. Receiving device 10R may also display the prompt message“You may move another device into sight of broadcaster” when receivingdevice 10R has completed the task of receiving data.

When a data copying session is complete, broadcasting device 10B may beconfigured to automatically reboot to display menu option user interfacescreen 1300. Configuring broadcasting device 10B to automaticallydisplay screen 1300 in a broadcasting mode is advantageous if all of aplurality of devices requiring reprogramming cannot be reprogrammed witha single reprogramming broadcast. Broadcasting device 10B may also bemade to automatically reboot to display operating system-drive (OSdriven) main menu screen 1100 as shown in FIG. 5 when a data copyingsession is complete. Similarly, receiving device 10R may be configuredto automatically reboot to re-display screen 1400, or else automaticallyreboot to display OS-driven screen 1100 when a data copying session iscomplete.

Broadcasting device 10B executes a verbatim memory data image copying toone or several receiving devices 10R. By verbatim data image copying itis meant that the address location of the data copied is retained sothat the copied data, regardless of whether it is part of a file system,a kernel, a boot loader, or a keyboard after the copying, has the sameaddress location (and, therefore, size) in the receiving device 10R asin the broadcasting device 10B. Each section (boot loader, kernel, IPSM)of the replicated memory data image of receiver 10R will necessarilyhave the same size as in broadcaster 10B. Typically, a verbatim memorydata image copying is conducted on a bit by bit basis such that datafile system image, kernel image, or boot loader image reproduced in areceiving device 10R are located in the same address locations as in thebroadcast device 10B. Bit by bit memory copying is several times fasterthan “file by file” copying coordinated by operating systems of twocommunicating portable devices. An example memory map of a broadcastingdevice 10B is shown in FIG. 4 a. Broadcasting device 10B may include amemory map as shown in FIG. 4 a with code corresponding to boot loaderstored at addresses 0x00000000 to 0x0003FFFF, code corresponding thekernel stored at addresses 0x004000 to 0x010FFFFF, and codecorresponding to a file system stored at addresses 0x01100000 to0x01FFFFFF. After a data copying session in which option 1310 ofbroadcaster menu screen 1300 and option 1410 of the receiving devicemenu screen 1400 is selected, the memory map of a receiving device 10Rwill be identical to a memory map of a broadcasting device 10B. The“keyboard” section of memory referred to with reference to FIGS. 3 a-3 cis contained in address locations of non-volatile memory areas ofmicrocontroller 57, and is not depicted in the memory maps of FIGS. 4 aand 4 b.

Utilization of an infrared interface 175 during data copying facilitatesflexibility in reprogramming. Several receiving devices can bereprogrammed simultaneously provided they are within the “cone” (e.g., a30 degree cone) of the communication link provided by infraredtransceiver 175. Infrared transceivers such as link 175 are relativelyinexpensive and widely incorporated as a standard component in manytypes of portable devices. By controlling infrared line 175 utilizingsingle-threaded, preferably OS free commands, the speed of an infraredtransceiver 175 can be optimized. For example, as of 2002, infraredtransceiver 175 could readily be operated at Fast Infrared (FIR) speedsapproaching 4.0 Mbits/record of continuous throughput when operatedutilizing single-threaded OS free command. Speed of IR transceivers 175Band 175R (FIG. 2 b) can be enhanced further if, during a broadcast mode,IR transceiver 17B is controlled to be devoid of data receivefunctionality and IR transceiver 175R during a receive mode of areceiver device 10R is controlled to be devoid of data broadcastfunctionality. By comparison, when operating in accordance with a mainoperating system, IR transceiver 175 is controlled to have continuoustransmit and receive functionality, to be responsive to highly layeredcommands, and to process OS driven acknowledgment packets, all of whichlimit data throughput.

It will be seen that the invention is highly useful especially whenutilized to carry out such application as kernel upgrades or file systemupgrades in applications where it is desirable to program each ofseveral portable devices in the same way. The invention is particularlyuseful in data collection such as shipping or inventory applications. Insuch applications, each of several data collection devices are commonlyrotated among a team of users. Team performance and efficiency is oftenoptimized if each of the several devices is programmed similarly.

Another method for reprogramming a portable device such as device 10 cis described with reference to FIG. 6 a. Device reprogramming system3500 includes a symbol generating device 110, typically provided by a PC4110, a printer 4014, a reprogramming bar code symbol 3110, andreconfigurable device 10 c. Symbol generating device 110, 4110 includesa bar code encoder module 3702 (FIG. 6 b) for encoding a bar code, and aGUI development screen 3600 (driven by a GUI program module 3602, FIGS.11 a, 11 c) for developing reprogramming bar code symbol 3110.Reconfigurable device 10 c includes a data stream-processing programmodule 5110 (FIG. 6 b) for processing a data message of symbol 3110encoded in accordance with the invention. Reprogramming system 5(FIG. 1) and reprogramming system 3500 (FIG. 6 a) can be incorporatedtogether in a mobile computer network to enhance the overallreprogramming functionality of a mobile computer network.

Reconfigurable device 10 c, operating in accordance with the data streamprocessing program module 5110, may process the data message provided bydecoding symbol 3110 to store into a memory of device 10 c formattedfile data included in the data stream. Device 10 c, operating inaccordance with the processing program, may also execute a command ofthe data message utilizing a formatted file associated with the encodedmessage. The file data and command data processed by the reconfigurabledevice 10 c may be input into symbol generator 4110 via GUI developmentscreen 3600 of the symbol generator 4110. In accordance with the inputdata, symbol-generating device 4110 encodes an appropriate file-encodedsymbol, and issues to printer 4014 appropriate instructions to print theencoded symbol onto a substrate 3116. Reconfigurable device 10 c readsand processes the printed symbol 3110 and is thereby reprogrammed.

As indicated in the software architecture block diagram of FIG. 11 a,GUI program module 3602 may accept data input into screen 3600 by auser, process the input data and present output data for presenting toencoder module 3702. Reconfigurable device 10 c may also includeapplication program interface (API) 3752 as is indicated by the blockdiagram of FIG. 11 b. API 3752 provides a programmer with a set ofcommands and allows a user to designate such information as files toencode and command data via the authoring of program code. Of course,reconfigurable device 10 c can be made to include a GUI program module3602 in combination with API module 3702 in which GUI module 3602 inputsdata to API 3752 as shown in FIG. 11 c. A manufacturer of device 10 cmay sell some customers program packages in accordance with the softwarearchitecture of FIG. 11 b and other customers program packages inaccordance with FIG. 11 c. Customers purchasing a package in accordancewith FIG. 11 b will want to have their reconfigurable device 10 creprogrammable by reading bar code symbols 3110, but may wish torestrict the development of reprogramming symbols 3110. Customerspurchasing a package according to architecture of FIG. 11 b may alsowish to develop their own proprietary GUI modules for use in associationwith AMI module 3702. Customers purchasing software packages inaccordance with the block diagram of FIG. 11 c will be those desirous ofhaving a manufacturer-prepared GUI module 3602 available to theircustomers. Of course, the purchaser of a software package in accordancewith FIG. 11 c may disable GUI module 3602 and author programming codefor input into API module 3752 or else replace GUI module 3602 with anindependently authored GUI module 3602. Both GUI module 3602 and APImodule 3702 herein are considered user interfaces. While GUI interface3600 is a prompting user interface in that it prompts a user to enterinformation, it is understood that prompting interfaces that are not GUIbased can be used in place of GUI interface 3600. For example, GUIinterface 3600 can be substituted for by a text based promptinginterface, an example of which is shown in FIG. 3 a.

While the symbol generating device 4110 can be provided by a desktop PC,it is understood that the symbol generating device can take on anyavailable packaged computer form, e.g., a notebook computer, a cellphone, a PDA, or another mobile optical reader 10, 110 as is shown inFIG. 6 a, or another computer device form factor, some examples of whichare shown in FIG. 16.

A block diagram of System 3500 is shown in FIG. 6 b. Reconfigurabledevice 10 c includes image sensor 32 and associated imaging optics 50, acontrol circuit 40 comprising CPU 41, memory 45 and additionalcomponents of the portable device 10 previously described with referenceto FIG. 2 a. Reconfigurable device 10 c further includes data streamprocessing module 5110. Symbol generator 4110 in the example of FIG. 6b, is a personal computer including a control circuit 4140, a memory4145 including hard drive 4146, and a display 4113 d which displays GUIdevelopment screen 3600. Symbol generator 4110 may further include a GUIdriving module 3602, encoder module 3702, and an API module 3752 as hasbeen described herein. Control circuit 4140 is in communication withprinter 4014. While program modules 3602, 3702, 3752, and module 5110are shown as being incorporated in nonvolatile memory ROM 4144, and ROM44 respectively, it is understood that such program modules could beincorporated in other memory devices, including long term memory storagedevices, in a system firmware memory location including a memory of aprocessor IC chip, or may be implemented in hardware.

Symbol generating device 4110 can include any commercially available barcode symbol encoder module 3702. Examples of commercially available barcode symbol encoders include BAR CODE ACTNEX version.2.0 ACTNEX PLUS(.NET READY) version and B-CODER 2.0 available from Tal Technology,Inc., various encoding program available from ID Automation.com, Inc.,and BARTENDER VERSION 7 by Seagull Scientific. Reprogramming symbol 3110may be a 1D bar code symbol or a 2D bar code symbol, or anotherdecodable indicia.

Referring to aspects of system 3500 relating to communication options,host computer 4100 may be provided by a PC and may be in communicationvia system backbone 4002 (which may be provided by such hardware as anEthernet cable). More particularly, backbone 4002 may be incommunication with PC 4100, communication/charging cradle 4016, andaccess point 4018. Mobile devices 10 may be in communication with PC4100 wirelessly via access point 4018 and/or nonwirelessly viacommunication cradle 4016. Backbone 4002 may be further in communicationwith server 4030 and with a remote network 4020. A network 4050maintained by a manufacturer or other supplier of device 10 may be incommunication with network 4020. Server 4052 or another computer ofsupplier network 4050 may store the supplier's website from which a userof computer 10 or computer 4110 may view web pages or access files. Inone embodiment, network 4020 represents the Internet. In anotherembodiment, network 4020 represents an Intranet. In another embodiment,the local area network (LAN) including devices 10 and PC 4110 isdirectly linked to supplier network 4050.

In one embodiment, symbol generator 4110 encodes (1) a formatted fileand (2) an OS understandable command into an encoded symbol 4110. Forexample, in one embodiment, symbol generator 4110 encodes a symbol 3110which, when read by reconfigurable device 10 c, causes a certain textmessage (e.g., a notice, a help message, a promotional message) to bedisplayed on display 13 d of reconfigurable device 10 c. In such anembodiment, symbol generator 4110 may encode; e.g., a WORDPERFECTencoded word processing document (a .WPD file) into a symbol 3110printed by printer 4014 and a command encoded in symbol 4014 may includea command to automatically open a WordPerfect program to the WordPerfectdocument encoded into the symbol. Such a command may take the form:“WP.EXE/MESSAGE.WPD.”

In another embodiment, symbol generator 4110 encodes a symbol 3110 whichwhen read by reconfigurable device 10 c, causes a certain audio file (asong, a voice message) to automatically be played by device 10 c afterreading of symbol 3110. In such an embodiment, symbol generator 4110 mayencode an MP3 file (.MP3) into symbol 3110 (or an audio file in anothersuitable format such as .WAV or .AVI) and the command may be a commandto open an MP3 player and to play the file encode in the symbol. Such acommand may take the form: “MP3PLAYER.EXE/SONG.MP3.” Numerous otherexamples of the invention are described herein.

A GUI development screen 3600 which may be used with the invention isdescribed with reference to FIGS. 7 a-7 j. GUI development screen 3600and the program module 3602 for driving screen 3600 may be incorporatedinto PC 4110. GUI development screen 3600 may be displayed on a display4113 d associated with PC 4110 as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6 a.GUI development screen 3600 may also be incorporated in another type ofcomputer device and displayed on a display thereof, e.g., display 13 dof mobile computer 10, 110 or 10 c (the reconfigurable device 10 c cancontain the GUI screen 3600 and its associated module 3602 drivingprogram) as shown in FIG. 6 a.

Referring to GUI development screen 3600, GUI development screen 3600(which is also referred to herein as an “interface”) includes a fileselection area 3610 allowing a user to input which of files presentlystored on symbol generator 4110 he wishes to have encoded in symbol3110. In the selection of formatted files to encode, a user may openvarious windows to view the contents of various files and/or foldersstored on a memory; e.g., memory 4145 of the symbol generator usingmouse 4113 m or another pointer-mover such as mover 13 m to move pointer3630 in the selection of files to be encoded. More than one formattedfile may be selected for encoding. Development screen 3600 also includesa command input area 3620 allowing a user to specify a command to beexecuted by reconfigurable device 10 c upon a reading of symbol 3110.

The command that is input into input area 3520 for encoding andeventually executed by reconfigurable device 10 c may be an OSunderstandable command; that is, a command which can be understood andexecuted by the operating system of reconfigurable device 10 c.Providing system 3500 so that symbol generator 4110 encodes easilyselected formatted file data and/or encodes an OS understandable commandadapts system 3500 for implementation across a variety of differentplatforms. A data stream processing module 5110 need not include anyproprietary instructions for interpreting and processing commands inputinto input area 3620. Referring further aspects of interface 3600, auser, using area 3650 of screen 3600, may designate the file directorypath of stored formatted file data to be stored in memory 45 of device10 c.

Referring to further aspects of interface 3600, a user using area 3672may designate the number of symbols 3110 he wishes system 3500 toproduce in order to facilitate a reconfiguring of reconfigurable device10 c. If a user enters “1” in area 3672, one larger file encoded symbol3110 will be produced by host 4110. If a user enters “2” in area 3672,symbol generator 4110 will produce two smaller reprogramming symbols forfacilitating reconfiguring of reconfigurable device 10 c. System 3500may automatically change the symbol count and the symbol countdesignated in area 3672 depending on the data requirements. For example,symbol generator 110 can be configured so that if a user selects alarger formatted file using area 3610, larger than a predetermined size,symbol generator 110 automatically increases the number of symbols thatare required to be encoded, and automatically adjusts the symbol countreported in area 3672.

Various examples of “programming sheets” of the invention are shown inFIGS. 8 a, 8 b and 8 c. In the example of FIG. 8 a, host encoder 4110prints a single file encoded symbol 3110 on a single substrate 3700. Inthe example of FIG. 8 b, host encoder 4110 prints two file encodedsymbols 3110 a and 3110 b on a single substrate 3700. In the example ofFIG. 8 c, host encoder 4100 prints first file encoded symbol 1310 a onfirst substrate 3702 and second file encoded symbol 1310 b on secondsubstrate 3704. Device 10 c must read both of symbols 1310 a and 1310 bto be reprogrammed. Access to certain file or files can be controlled bycontrolling access to one of substrates 3702, 3704. Programming sheets3700, 3702, 3704 can be provided; e.g., on paper including adhesivebacked paper (stickers) and plastic or other rigid or semi rigididentification cards such as drivers licenses, customer loyalty cards,credit cards and debit cards.

It will be seen that the multiple symbol option of the inventionfacilitates a security application. The symbol encoding system of theinvention can be made so that reconfigurable device 10 c is reconfiguredto include a certain formatted file (e.g., a .XML, a .PDF or a .HTMLfile), or a command or other data, only after reading all symbols of amultiple symbol reprogramming set. The distribution of a first symbol3100 a and the second symbol 3110 b (FIGS. 8 b, 8 c) can be controlledso that reprogramming of a device 10 c by reading of two symbols islimited to those users who have access to both of the reprogrammingsymbols 3110 a and 3110 b.

While system 3500 described with reference to FIG. 6 a includes printer4014, a system according to the invention can be devoid of printer 4014.

A highly useful alternative embodiment of the invention is describedwith reference to FIGS. 12 a-12 d. In the embodiment of FIG. 12 a,reprogramming symbol 3110 is not printed, but rather is displayed onelectronic display 4113 d. Reconfigurable device 10 c (shown as beingprovided by a PDA with a detachable imager module such as an ISC-IMAGERor IT4500 Image Reader available from Hand Held Products, Inc. ofSkaneateles Falls, N.Y.) reads symbol 3110 displayed on display 4113 dand, thereby, is reprogrammed. Symbol generator 4110 may displayreprogramming symbol 3110 as part of GUI development screen 3600, asshown in the screen shot example of FIG. 7 i.

Utilization of the reprogramming system of FIG. 12 a eliminates the needto print symbol 3110 on paper. Utilization of the reprogramming systemof FIG. 12 a also improves the ease with which symbol 3110 can be madeavailable to a variety of users and with a different one of device 10 c.For example, a supplier of reconfigurable device 10 c may make symbol3110 available by accessing a supplier's website stored on network 4050.Symbol 3110 may be stored on a web page of supplier network 4050, or maybe included in a formatted file [e.g., .PDF, .WPD, .XML] transferredfrom supplier's network 4050. Thus, several users at various remotelocations, each having a different one of reconfigurable devices 10 ccan readily access the same symbol 3110. A supplier maintaining network4050 may configure network 4050 to e-mail each of several customers areprogramming symbol 3100 on receipt of a request from various customersor based on a command input by a supplier. The e-mailed symbol may be atime-varying symbol 3110TV as will be described herein. The e-mailedtime varying symbol 3110TV can be part of an animation file,conveniently provided in a .GIF file format, for example.

It has been described herein with reference to FIGS. 8 a-8 c that areprogramming system according to the invention can include more thanone symbol, 3110 a and 3110 b printed on a substrate. In a variation ofthe invention, multiple symbols 3110 a and 3110 b are electronicallydisplayed (e.g., on a display 4113 d or by a projection). In anothervariation, multiple symbols 3110 a and 3110 b, electronically displayed,are displayed at the same position of a display (e.g., 4113 d), but atdifferent times. Symbol 3110 a is displayed at a certain position ofdisplay 4113 d at time T₁ and symbol 3110 b is also displayed at thatsame position of display 4113 d, but at time T₂, some time after T₁.Thus, reader 10 c can be used to read symbol 3110 a and 3110 b withoutbeing moved. In one example, reader 10 c is placed on a stand 6002 at afixed position relative to display 4113 d so that it can read allsymbols within the position 6004 of display 4113 d. Device 10 c isfurther configured to operate in an automatic reading mode in which itautomatically reads symbols and is operated in the automatic readingmode. Display 4113 d meanwhile, is operated to display a “time varyingbar code symbol” 3100TV. That is, display 4113 d is operated tosuccessively display several different symbols 3110 (e.g., 3110 a, 3110b, 3110 c. . . ) at common position (e.g., position 6004) at display4113 d. The successive display may be automatic or controlled (e.g.,with use of a toggle actuator 3181 as shown in FIG. 7 i). Utilizing thereprogramming system including a time varying symbol 3110TV, largeramounts of data including larger formatted files can more readily beloaded into reconfigurable device 10 c by way of reading reprogrammingsymbols. The use of time-varying symbol 3110TV to reprogram a device 10c is often more reliable and convenient than other reprogramming methodsbecause it does not rely on the proper configuration of anycommunication port and does not rely on the integrity of any networkconnection. In the embodiment of FIG. 12 c, several portablereconfigurable symbol reading devices 10 c placed on stand 6002 arereprogrammed at once by reading a time varying bar code symbol 3110TV.It is understood that more than one symbol 3110 can be displayed ondisplay 4113D for reading at a given time. In the embodiment of FIG. 12d, time-varying symbol 3110TV is displayed at various positions ofdisplay 4110 so as to eliminate the need to orient each device 10 to acommon reading point. Referring to FIG. 16, presentation reader 4908 canbe reprogrammed by disposing PDA 4922 under presentation reader 4908 anddisplaying a time varying symbol 3110TV on a display 13 d of PDA 4922.While the reprogramming system of FIGS. 12 a-12 d includes a PC 4110, itis understood that PC 4110 may be a generic PC which does not encode barcode symbols and which is not part of system 3500.

When reading time varying symbols 3110TV, device 10 c should be operatedto continuously read bar codes. To facilitate reading reader 10 c may beoperated in a continuous read mode in which the reader automatically andcontinuously reads bar codes. Also, a trigger 13 t of device 10 c can beheld down, or repetitively actuated. A reprogramming method involvingthe reading of a time varying symbol 3110TV may be particularlyadvantageous where reconfigurable device 10 c requires installation of alarge file but is lacking available communication ports or userinterfaces (keyboards, GUIs) for operating/controlling its communicationports.

Referring to other aspects of GUI development screen 3600, area 3674allows a user to select whether data is to be compressed before beingencoded in symbol 3110. Compression schemes which may be launched by auser checking the box of area 3674 include e.g., a run-lengthcompression scheme, a Huffman-coding compression scheme, and aLempel-Ziv compression scheme. Area 3676 allows a user to select whetherdata encoded in symbol 3110 is to be encrypted prior to being encoded insymbol 3110. Encryption schemes which may be launched by a user checkingthe box of area 3674 include e.g., an RC2 block cipher scheme, an RC4stream cipher scheme, a DES block cipher scheme, and a triple DES blockcipher. Area 3678 allows a user to select whether device 10 c is to berebooted after executing a command of command 3620. Area 3680 allows auser to select whether a “cycle” command is to be executed. If cyclearea 3680 is checked, reconfigurable device 10 c waits to read anotherreprogramming symbol 3110 after reading a first reprogramming symbol3110. If cycle input area 3680 is not checked, reconfigurable device 10c reverts to main menu display screen 1100 (FIG. 5) after reading symbol3110. If reboot input area 3678 is checked, device 10 c reboots aftersuccessfully processing a bar code symbol data stream. If hide batcharea 3682 is not checked, device 10 c displays during their executionthe various commands that make up a script file, if a multiple commandscript file is entered as the command in command input area 3620 ofscreen 3600 (see Examples 4 and 5). Package ID area 3684 allows a userof screen 3600 to input “wild card” data, i.e., any data theuser-programmer wishes to enter. Such wild card data may be used for thecontrol of device 10 c; that is, processing module 5110 may be made tobranch control depending on the content of the data entered in area3684. When making a reprogramming symbol set as will be described, it isuseful to designate each symbol as having the same ID so module 5110 canreadily assess whether a decoded symbol is one of a set that is in theprocess of being read. The package ID data may designate the purpose ofa particular symbol 3110, e.g., a song, a printer configuration, a radioconfiguration, etc. Area 3686 indicates to a user the data (e.g. byte)size of the symbol to be encoded. A user may use area 3686 to reduce asymbol size. Symbol generator 110 may be configured so that if a useruses area 3686 to reduce a symbol size, symbol generator 110automatically adjusts a symbol count as indicated by area 3672.

A data stream of an encoded symbol data message may take the formdescribed with reference to FIG. 10. In one example, data field 5010 mayencode data corresponding to the type of bar code symbol. Field 5012 mayinclude data indicating that the symbol is a specially designated symbolfor use with system 3500. Field 5014 may encode a barcode flag, such aswhether device 10 c is to beep when successfully reading a symbol 3110or completing a block 5130, 5140 (FIG. 9) or display a message afterreading symbol 3110, or after completing a block 5130, 5140 (FIG. 9).Field 5016 may include a package ID, which as explained herein, isuser-designated data (input into area 3684), allowing a user of GUIscreen 3600 to easily encode control or other data into data stream5000. Field 5020 may encode how many bar codes are encoded. Field 5022may encode the data version of the data stream. From time to time, amaker of symbol 3110 may wish to change the data format of data stream5000. Field 5024 may encode whether certain data manipulations have beenperformed in encoding the data such as compression and encryption. Field5034 may include file data corresponding to an encoded file selected bya user input into area 3610 of screen 3600. Field 5030 may include datacorresponding to the path in which data is to be stored in device 10 c.Field 5028 may include command data input into screen 3600 to commandarea 3620. Fields 5010, 5012, 5014, 5016, 5018, and 5020 can beconsidered a bar code header 5080. Fields 5022, 5024, 5026, 5028, 5030,and 5032 can be considered a data header 5090 while fields 5030 and 5032can be considered a file header 5092.

An exemplary sample program highlighting certain features of aprocessing module 5110 which may be incorporated on reconfigurabledevice 10C for processing of data stream 5000 is described withreference to the flow diagram of FIG. 9. At block 5120, device 10 c inaccordance with module 5110 reads a reprogramming bar code symbol 3110in response to a recognition that trigger 13 t has been actuated (block5110 ). At block 5125, device 10 c processes headers of data stream5000. Such processing may include e.g. deletion of bar code header datawhen attaching file data encoded in two separate symbols, reading headercontrol data such as encryption, and compression instructions, and hidebatch instructions, determining whether the symbol is part of areprogramming symbol set, and the number of the symbol in the set. Atblock 5130, device 10 c stores formatted file data as selected usingarea 3610 of interface screen 3600 into a specific path of a memory ofdevice 10 c selected using area 3640 of interface screen 3600. At block5140, device 10 c executes a command in accordance with the commandpreviously input into the symbol generator 4110, using area 3620 ofinterface screen 3600. An important aspect of the invention, in oneembodiment, is that device 10 c in accordance with data streamprocessing module 5110 automatically executes block 5140 (executecommand) subsequent to reading symbol (block 5120 ). Thus, a symbol 3110can be made which results in e.g., a text message being displayed, asong or movie being played, a file being downloaded, a website openedwithout there being any user input command input into device 10 c otherthan the commands that are input by the act of reading symbol 3110.

When executing a command at block 5140, device 10 c executes anexecutable program. For example, when opening a document, device 10 cmay execute a word processing program such as WordPerfect or MicrosoftWord. When playing a song, device 10 c might execute an audio playersuch as an MP3 player or a .WAV file player. The command often has adata file associated it. For example, for opening a document, thecommand may be a command to open a certain document file using a certainprogram. For playing a song, the command is a command to play a certainmusic file using a certain music file player. In that a formatted fileis stored at block 5130 into memory 45 of device 10 c before anexecution of an executable file at block 5140, the formatted data(music, text) file associated with command block 5140 can be and isoften the encoded file data stored at block 5730. The command may beincluded in a script file such as a .BAT file, a .JS file or a .VB file.

Portable device 10 c may be automatically driven or manually driven intoa mode in which it operates in accordance with the flow diagram of FIG.9. Main menu screen 1100 as shown in FIG. 5 may include “SymbolReprogramming” icon 1108. Device 10 c may be configured so thatactuation of icon 1108 results in device 10 c operating in a mode, asdescribed in connection with the flow diagram of FIG. 9, in which device10 c is reprogrammed by reading a specifically configured bar codesymbol 3110. Device 10 c can also be made to be driven into a symbolreprogramming mode by reading a specifically designed reprogramming modebar code symbol 3112, which, when read, results in device 10 c operatingin a mode in which it is reprogrammed by reading symbol 3110.Reprogramming mode symbol 3112 may be provided in a user's manual 4115(FIG. 6 a) associated with device 10 c. User's manual 4115 can bedownloaded from an Internet website of the manufacturer of device 10 c.Device 10 c can also be programmed so that when in a decode mode(actuated by selection of icon 1104) device 10 c recognizes a decodedreprogramming symbol as a reprogramming symbol and commences operationin accordance with a symbol reprogramming mode.

It will be understood that the symbol generator 110, the reconfigurabledevice 10 c, the broadcasting device 10 b, and receiving device 10 r ofthe reprogramming system of the invention can be incorporated in anyavailable computer-device form factor. For example, as shown in FIG. 16,any one of the symbol generator 110, the reconfigurable device 10 c, thebroadcasting device 10 b, or the receiving device 10 r can be embodiedby e.g., a gun style hand-held reader 4902, 4904, 4906, a hand-heldreader 4908 in a scan stand 4910, a pen reader 4912, a digital camera4946, a cellular phone 4914, 4916, a finger worn ring scanner 4920, aPDA 4922 and a PDT 4924. Further, a bar code reading reconfigurabledevice can have a reading unit tethered to or detachable with a devicemain body. For example, in FIG. 12, reconfigurable device 10 c includesreader unit 4940 detachable with device main body 4942. Device 4930(FIG. 16) includes a main body 4942 and a tethered reader unit 4940.Several of the form factors shown in FIG. 16 are discussed moreextensively in application Ser. No. 10/092,789, filed Mar. 7, 2002,entitled “Optical Reader Imaging Module,” incorporated herein byreference.

EXAMPLE 1

System 3500 is used to make a reprogramable symbol 3110 which, whenread, results in a particular text message custom-authored by a userautomatically being displayed on display 13 d of portable device 10, 10c. In making symbol 3110, one that results in text being displayed ondisplay 13 d, a document file is attached in file selection area 3610 ofdevelopment screen 3600. Formatted document file types include .DOC,.TXT, .WPD (WordPerfect) type formatted files. The making of areprogramming symbol 3110, which when read, results in customized textbeing displayed on display 13 d is particularly described with referenceto FIG. 7 a. Auxiliary window 3600 a is opened (using the “search”function of Microsoft Windows) and the search query *.DOC is used tolocate all formatted files stored on symbol generator 4110 having theformatted file extension .DOC. When opened, auxiliary window 3600 a foruse in selecting a file for encoding is considered part of symbolgenerator development screen 3600, and, therefore, is designated withthe reference numeral 3600 in addition to being designated with thereference numeral 3600 a. A text file stored in generator memory 4145has been previously custom-authored by a user. The text or document filecan contain any message. The message may be a promotional messagerespecting a product, and symbol 3110, which is created, can bestickered on to the product. The custom-authored message in Example 1 isstored under the file name “MESSAGE1.DOC.” In order to select thatformatted file, a user accesses window 3600 a and highlights the“MESSAGE1.DOC” of window 3600 a. Clicking on “add” button 3640 ofinterface screen 3600 results in the “MESSAGE1.DOC” file being selected(see FIG. 7 c, add button 3640 hidden from view in FIG. 7 a). Usingcommand 3620 a user using development interface 3600 inputs anappropriate command. An appropriate command when system 3500 is used togenerate a text display symbol may be a command to open the selectedtext document using a particular word processing program (PocketWord,Word, WordPerfect). In the example of FIG. 7 a, the command input is thecommand: “PWORD.EXE/MESSAGE1.DOC.” This input command (after beingencoded and then decoded) when executed by device 10 c results in the“MESSAGE1.DOC” formatted file being opened for viewing using thePocketWord program previously stored on memory 45 of device 10 c.

As is illustrated in the example of FIG. 7 a, development interface 3600can be utilized to designate a path of the formatted file to be subjectto encoding into a symbol, then decoding and storage onto device 10 c. Adesired path of the stored data is input into path designation area 3650of development screen 3600. In the example of FIG. 7 a, the path data:“/MESSAGE1.DOC” is entered. Without any folders being specified, e.g.,C:/DOCUMENTS/MESSAGE1.DOC., the file data selected for encoding usingarea 3650 is stored in the root directory of device 10 c.

When generate button 3660 is selected (see FIG. 7 c, generate button3660 hidden from view in FIG. 7 a) a symbol image file is generatedencoding the input information. After symbol generation is complete, theencoded symbol image file can be accessed and printed by actuation of aprint button (not shown). It is understood that an encoded symbol imagefile not be printed to be read. An encoded symbol image file (stored inan appropriate image file format such as .PDF, .TIF) may be displayed ondisplay 4173 d and then read by device 10 c. An encoded symbol imagefile can also be projected by an image projector and the projection canbe read by device 10 c.

Symbol 3110 may be encoded so that a data stream produced by thedecoding of symbol 3110 by device 10 c is given by Table 1A below.

TABLE 1A Reference No. Description Data Content 5010 Barcode Version B5012 EZConfig ECFG Signature 5014 Barcode Flags BEEP | DISPLAY 5016 IdMSG 5018 Barcode Index 1 5020 Number of 1 Barcodes 5022 Data Version 15024 Data Flags ENCRYPT|COMPRESS 5026 Checksum 0x00003386E 5028 CommandPWORD.EXE/MESSAGE1.DOC 5030 File #1 Path MESSAGE1.DOC 5032 File #1 Size50 5034 File #1 Data -BINARY CONTENTS OF .DOC FILE-

EXAMPLE 2

System 3500 is utilized to make a symbol 3110 which, when read, resultsin a certain song automatically being played. In making a symbol 3110which results in a certain song automatically being played, a selectedmusic file in an appropriate music file format such as .WAV, .MP3 or.MID is attached in area 3610 utilizing interface 3600 as shown in FIG.7 b. A desired song file might have a file name “SONG1.WAV,” forexample. Folder window 3600 a is opened to aid in the selection process.In selection area 3650 a path for the file to be stored on inreconfigurable device 10 c is selected. If the input information intopath selection area 3650 is “/MUSIC/SONG1.WAV,” then the file SONG1.WAVwill be stored into the “music” folder of device memory 45 after beingdecoded by device 10 c. In command area 3620 a command such as:PLAYER.EXE/MUSIC/SONG1.WAV” may be input. This command (encoded insymbol 3110 and decoded by reading device 10 c) when executed by readingdevice 10 c results in the music file SONG1.WAV stored in the folder“music” being played.

A system facilitating the encoding of song files and other audio filesinto a bar code symbol such that the audio file is automatically playedwhen symbol 3110 is read has broad practical application. For example,in one application, a symbol 3110 encoded with a music file is placed onpromotional advertisement 6102 for a concert as shown in FIG. 13 a. Byreading symbol 3110, a reader can hear a sample of the music that theperforming artist plays in concert. In the example of FIG. 13 b, a songplaying symbol 3110 is disposed on a book or magazine 6104 describingthe work of a musical artist. By reading symbol 3110, a sample of theartist's music is played. In the example of FIG. 13 c, a song-playingsymbol 3110 is attached to a concert ticket 6106. By reading symbol 3110a sample of the music or the performing artist to play in concert isplayed. In the example of FIG. 13 d, an audio file encoded-symbol isaffixed to a campaign promotional ad 6108. By reading symbol 3110, aspeech by the candidate is played. In the example of FIG. 13 e, an audiofile encoded symbol is placed on a sell sheet 6110 for a commercialproduct. Reading symbol 3110 causes a promotional audio message to beplayed.

Symbol 3110 may be encoded so that a data stream produced by thedecoding of symbol 3110 by device 10 c is given by Table 2A below.

TABLE 2A Reference No. Description Data Content 5010 Barcode Version B5012 EZConfig Signature ECFG 5014 Barcode Flags BEEP | DISPLAY 5016 IdSONG 5018 Barcode Index 1 5020 Number of Barcodes 1 5022 Data Version 15024 Data Flags ENCRYPT | COMPRESS 5026 Checksum 0x0003386e 5028 Command“PLAYER.EXE/MUSIC/ SONG1.WAV” 5030 File #1 Path “/MUSIC/SONG1.WAV” 5032File #1 Size 3225 5034 File #1 Data -BINARY CONTENTS OF .WAV FILE

In certain instances, the audio file desired to be encoded may be toolarge to be conveniently encoded in a single bar code In such instances,a multiple symbol reprogramming symbol set may be created. In thealternative, command to transfer a desired song file from a designatedlocation may be encoded. For example, file transfer protocol (“FTP”)commands can be used to download an audio file from a remote location,such as a remote website. Use of FTP commands are discussed further inExample 9. In addition, the command “SHELLEXECUTEEX” can be used to playan audio file. “SHELLEXECUTEEX” is a command available on the Pocket PCoperating system that results in an appropriate executable programassociated with a file extension automatically being executed forprocessing of a selected file. Examples 4 and 5 discuss use of .BATfiles to create reprogramming symbols which encode multiple commands. Itwill be seen that a .BAT file can be encoded which contains thecombination of an FTP command to download a music file from a designatednetwork address and a “SHELLEXECUTEEX” command to automatically play theaudio file once it is downloaded. It is also possible to input into area3620 a command which, when encoded and the decoded, results in an audiofile being played which does not require the downloading of a completeaudio file into reconfigurable device 10 c. The command “PLAYER.EXEWWW.MUSIC.COM/MUSIC/SONG1.WAV, input into area 3620 (whereinwww.music.com is a website storing music files) will encode a symbol3110 which, when decoded, results in a music file being played withoutthere being downloaded a complete audio file into reconfigurable device10 c. It will be seen that symbol generator 110 can be used to create asymbol 3110 which, when read, results in an image file or a video fileautomatically being played. The command “PLAYER.EXEWWW.VIDEOFILES.COM/VIDEOS/VIDEO1.MOV” can be input into area 3620 in themaking of symbol 3110. When the command “PLAYER.EXEWWW.VIDEOFILES.COM/VIDEOS/VIDEO1.MOV” is executed by reconfigurabledevice 10 c, reconfigurable device 10 c plays the video file“VIDEO1.MOV” located on the video file website “WWW.VIDEOFILES.COM.” Thevideo file may be placed on display 13 d of device 10 c. The executionof the command IEXPLORE.EXE WWW.PHOTOS.COM/PHOTOS/PHOTO1.JPG by device10 c via the reading of symbol 3110 created by inputting that commandinto area 3620 results in device 10 c using the Internet Explorerbrowser to open the image file “PHOTO1.JPG” located on the websiteWWW.PHOTOS.COM.” Video files and image files can also be encodeddirectly into symbol 3110 (which may be a time varying symbol 3110 TV)as explained with reference to Examples 1 and 2 herein via the encodingof formatted files located on generator 110 using area 3610 of screen3600. Video files and image files can also be downloaded to device 10 cusing FTP (Example 9).

“SHELLEXECUTEEX” commands may be used to execute numerous types of files(e.g., text, audio, image, video). The command“SHELLEXECUTEEX/MUSIC/SONG1.WAV” in Example 2 might be input into area3620 instead of ‘PLAYER.EXE/MUSIC/SONG1.WAV”. This command, whenexecuted by device 10 c will play the .WAV FILE “SONG1.WAV” Likewise,referring to Example 1, the command “SHELLEXECUTEEX/MESSAGE1.DOC” can beentered into area 3620 to result in the document file “MESSAGE1.DOC”automatically being opened when symbol 3110 is read.

EXAMPLE 3

System 3500 is used to make a symbol 3110 which, when read, results in abrowser automatically being opened to a specific web page. In order tomake a symbol 3110 which, when read, results in a specific web pageautomatically being opened, it is not necessary to designate anyformatted file for encoding using area 3610. All that is needed to makea browser-opening symbol 3110 is an appropriate command being entered incommand 3620. Input into command 3620 may be a command such as:“IEXPLORE.EXE WWW.HHP.COM” as shown in FIG. 7 c. Execution of thecommand IEXPLORE.EXE WWW/HHP.COM (after the command is encoded in symboland then decoded by device 10 c) results in the web page “WWW.HHP.COM”being opened using the program INTERNET EXPLORER.

Of course, the web page that is opened by device 10 c in accordance withthe command entered in command 3620 may be a command that opens a webpage that is stored on device 10 c. Further, the web page that is storedon device 10 c may be one previously encoded in symbol 3110. In avariation of the invention, a formatted file that is selected forencoding utilizing file selection area 3610 may be a web page file ine.g., an .HTML format. Other formats can be used to store web pagesincluding .HTML, .ASP, .DHTML, .VRML, .PDF. A browser can be configuredto load nearly any file format, e.g., .GIF, .JPG, .PNG, .PRN, .DIV,.MOV, .WAV, etc.

Symbol 3110 may be encoded so that a data stream produced by thedecoding of symbol by device 10 c is given by Table 3A below.

TABLE 3A Reference No. Description Data Content 5010 Barcode Version 35012 EZConfig “ECFG” Signature 5014 Barcode Flags BEEP | DISPLAY 5016 IdWEB 5018 Barcode Index 1 5020 Number of 1 Barcodes 5022 Data Version 15024 Data Flags -NONE- 5026 Checksum 0x0000017a 5028 CommandIEXPLORE.EXE WWW.HHP.COMIt is noted because no file is designated in area 3610, the data streamof Example 3 is devoid of file header data 5080 and devoid of encodedfile data block 5034.

EXAMPLE 4

System 3500 is used to create a symbol 3110 which when read results in aradio automatically being configured and certain software beingdownloaded into device 10 c. For example, a shipping company might wantits proprietary shipping software loaded into device 10 c. In making asymbol which is read to automatically configure a radio and downloadsoftware, a “BATCH FILE” (.BAT) may be selected as the file to encodeusing selection area. Batch files may be authored to contain a pluralityof commands. Other types of script files (e.g., .VB and JS) files can becreated which contain a plurality of commands. A batch file stored onsymbol generator 4110 may comprise a series of commands such as theseries:

TABLE 4A SAMPLE BATCH FILE   RADIOPOWERUP.EXE /80211B CFG80211.EXE/SSIDMYSSID/DHCP     UPDATE.EXE/P 1557/S/Rwhere “RADIOPOWERUP.EXE/80211B” is a command to power up an 802.11 radio170 (FIG. 6 b) using the executable file “RADIOPOWERUP.EXE” where“CFG80211.EXE/SSID MYSSID/DHCP” is a utility used to configure 802.11radios and where “UPDATE.EXE/P 1557/S/R” is a command which, whenexecuted by device 10 c (after being encoded and decoded), downloads acertain software package (such as a shipping software package) andreboots device 10. The “UPDATE.EXE” command may be substituted for by afile transfer protocol command to transfer a file from a remotelocation. If the UPDATE.EXE command is deleted, the .BAT file willmerely configure a radio.

If the above series of commands is stored in a batch file (.BAT), thefile selected as the formatted file to be encoded using file selectionarea 3610 may be the created batch (.BAT) file. In the example of FIG. 7d, the created batch file is the batch file “GO.BAT” which as indicatedby the path data of area 3610 is located in the “EZCONFIG” folder of the“HHP” directory of hard drive 4146. Further, the command entered incommand entry area 3620 may be a simple command to execute the batchfile. Input into command area 3620 may be the simple command “/GO.BAT”which is executed to execute the Table 4A commands.

Use of a script file to encode a series of commands provides aconvenient method for encoding a plurality of commands using adevelopment screen 3600 having a single command input area 3620. Thesame result could be achieved by configuring screen 3600 to havemultiple command input areas 3620. Creating a symbol 3110 which, whenread, results in a radio automatically being configured greatlysimplifies the configuration process in the case a fleet of devices 10 chave to be reprogrammed. Symbol 3110 may be encoded so that a datastream produced by the decoding of symbol 3110 by device is given byTable 4B below.

TABLE 4B Reference No. Description Data Content 5010 Barcode 2 Version5012 EZConfig “ECFG” Signature 5014 Barcode Flags Beep 5016 Id 1 5018Barcode Index 1 5020 Number of 1 Barcodes 5022 Data Version 2 5024 DataFlags COMPRESS | HIDE BATCH 5026 Checksum 0xF71E0000 5028 Command“/GO.BAT” 5030 File #1 Path “/GO.BAT” 5032 File #1 Size 84 5034 File #1Data “RADIOPOWERUP.EXE/80211B CFG80211.EXE/SSID MYSSID/DHCP UPDATE.EXE/P15577/S/R”

EXAMPLE 5

System 3500 may be used to make a symbol 3110 which is affixed on or inproximity with a printer 4090 and which, when read by device 10 c,results in device 10 c being automatically configured to communicatewith printer 4090 such that printer 4090 can be operated by device 10 c.In use, portable device 10 c may be carried from location to location ina given scanning environment. It would be convenient to provide ascanning environment in which portable device 10 c would be able toprint a report (or receipt or a document) to print at any printer of ascanning environment, even if the printer is newly added. In performinga data collection task, device 10 c may generate a document (a report, areceipt), which would be useful to print. As indicated by the schematicdiagram of FIG. 6 a, a new printer 3110 may be added in a scanningenvironment that is not in communication with the network comprisingdevices 10, and PC 4110.

In making a symbol 3110 facilitating a print application, a batch file(.BAT) can be stored on memory 4145 of symbol generator 4110 including aplurality of commands. Such a plurality of commands may include thecommands:

TABLE 5A SAMPLE BATCH FILE RADIOPOWERUP.EXE/BLUETOOTHCFGBLUETOOTH.EXE/PRINTER 00.002.72.B0.20.D9 COM8 PRINTREPORT.EXE COM8Where “RADIOPOWERUP.EXE/BLUETOOTH” is a command which, when executed bydevice 10 c, causes Bluetooth radio 172 of device 10 c (see FIG. 6 b) tobe powered up (another radio such as radio 170 could be selected); where“CFGBLUETOOTH.EXE/PRINTER 00.002.72.B0.20.D9 COM8” is a command whichcauses Bluetooth radio 172 to be configured, and where “PRINTREPORT.EXECOM8” is a command which causes printing of a document selected forprinting. Referring to the command“CFGBLUETOOTH.EXE/PRINTER00.0002.72.B0.20.D9COM 8, the argument“00.002.72.b0.20.D9” designates the printer address. The command“PRINTREPORT.EXE COM8” is a command to print a report usingcommunication port COM8. Based on the configuration performed by thepreviously executed “CFGBLUETOOTH.EXE” command, all COM8 print commandswill be routed to printer 4090. The document which is selected forprinting may be selected before driving device 10 c into areconfiguration mode in accordance with the invention. Symbol 3110 inExample 5 can be made so that a selected report is printed automaticallywhen symbol 3110 is read. The commands of Table 5A can be stored under abatch file “PRINTERCONNECT.BAT.”

Referring to inputs input by a user into interface 3600, after file“PRINTERCONNECT.BAT” is authored and stored in symbol generator memory4145, the batch file “PRINTERCONNECT.BAT” can be selected using area3610 as a file to encode into symbol 3110. Further, the command“/PRINTERCONNECT.BAT” is selected as the command for execution usingcommand entry area 3620 of interface 3600.

When generate button 3660 is actuated, a symbol 3110 is encoded. Ifsymbol 3110 is printed on a sticker, the sticker can be affixed to newprinter 4090 as shown in FIG. 6 a. When device 10 c, after having beendriven into a configuration mode reads symbol 3110 it is configured tobe in communication with printer 4090 and automatically initiates acommand to print a selected report-using printer 4090. It will be seenthat the method described in Example 5 can be applied to associate otherhardware to be associated with the devices of system 3500, e.g.,projectors, monitors and communications hardware such as radios. Areprogramming symbol 3110 disposed on a rental car would configure amobile device to communicate with an onboard computer to configure thecar with such things as the driver's radio preferences, or the seatposition. Scanning a reprogramming symbol 3110 disposed on a homeappliance would allow a user to configure the appliance using a userinterface on the mobile device (i.e., program the VCR, the A/C settings,etc.).

Symbol 3110 may be encoded so that a data stream produced by thedecoding of symbol 3110 by device 10 c is given by Table 5B below.

TABLE 5B Reference No. Description Data Content 5010 Barcode 2 Version5012 EZ Config “ECFG” Signature 5014 Barcode Flags Beep 5016 Id 1 5018Barcode Index 1 5020 Number of 1 Barcodes 5022 Data Version 2 5024 DataFlags COMPRESS | HIDE BATCH 5026 Checksum 0x000025AD 5028 Command“/PRINTERCONNECT.BAT” 5030 File #1 Path “/PRINTERCONNECT.BAT” 5032 File#1 Size 99 5034 File #1 Data “RADIOPOWERUP.EXE/ BLUETOOTHCFGBLUETOOTH.EXE/ PRINTER 00.02.72.B0.20.D9 COM8 PRINTREPORT.EXE COM8”

EXAMPLE 6

System 3500 is used to make a symbol 3110 which when read by device 10 cautomatically installs a digital certificate onto device 10 c.

Digital certificates often provide a greater level of security thanpasswords, but are impractical to manually enter. In Example 6, areprogramming symbol 3110 is created which encodes a digitalcertificate. When bar code symbol 3110 is read, the certificate isinstalled on the device 10 c. Digital certificates can be used torestrict access to certain files, including program (executable) filesof portable device 10 c. Firmware of device 10 c can be established sothat certain files cannot be opened, executed or otherwise accessedunless a certain digital certificate is installed on device 10 c.

In making a symbol which when read results in a digital certificatebeing installed on portable device 10 c, a digital certificate filestored in a memory 4145 of symbol generator 4410 is selected forencoding along with an appropriate command. A .CAB file is a singlecreated to hold a number of files. Digital certificates are convenientlystored as .CAB files. Digital certificates are also conveniently storedas .CER or .CRT files. Accordingly, using file selection area 3110 anappropriate digital certificate may be selected for encoding byselecting an appropriate .CAB file. In the example given, the selected.CAB file is the file “CERTIFICATE.CAB.” In the path selection area 3650of screen 3600 “/IPSM/CERTIFICATE.CAB” is entered to designate that theselected .CAB file, (after being encoded and then decoded by device 10c) is stored in the IPSM folder of device 10 c. In command entry area3620 the command “WCELOAD.EXE/IPSM/CERTIFICATE.CAB” is entered. Whenexecuted by device 10 c, the command entered at area 3620 causes theselected “CERTIFIED.CAB” file to be installed using the installationutility WCELOAD.EXE.

Symbol 3110 may be encoded so that a data stream produced by thedecoding of symbol 3110 by device 10 c is given by Table 6A below.

TABLE 6A!Reference? ? ? ?!No.? Description? Data Content 5010 BarcodeVersion 2 5012 EZConfig Signature “ECFG” 5014 Barcode Flags Beep |Display 5016 Id 1 5018 Barcode Index 1 5020 Number of 1 Barcodes 5022Data Version 2 5024 Data Flags COMPRESS| ENCRYPT| HIDE BATCH 5026Checksum 0x00003386E 5028 Command “WCELOAD.EXE/IPSM/ CERTIFICATE.CAB”5030 File #1 Path “/IPSM/CERTIFI- CATE.CAB” 5032 File #1 Size 1670 5034File #1 Data - BINARY CONTENTS OF CERTIFICATE.CAB

EXAMPLE 7

System 3500 is used to make a symbol which, when read, results in aproduct being registered with a manufacturer. In order to make a symbol3110, which when read, results in a product being registered with amanufacturer, two files stored on symbol generator 4110 are selected forencoding, as shown in the screenshot of FIG. 7 g. The two files are“FORM.HTM” and “PRODUCT.XML.” FORM.HTM is an .HTM file which presents auser information input screen (a data input screen which facilitatesentry of data such as purchaser name, address, phone number, and email,and other information typically associated with registering a product).PRODUCT.XML is an .XML formatted file which stores information about theproduct being purchased (the product model information and otherinformation). The user registration form 3700 (FIG. 14) generated by thefile FORM.HTM also contains a submit button 3722. The to-be-encodedFORM.HTM file is configured so that when the submit button 3722 (FIG.14) is clicked on, the user input information along with the productinformation of the PRODUCT.XML file is automatically sent to amanufacturer.

Referring to the development screen shown in FIG. 7 g, the filesFORM.HTM and PRODUCT.XML are selected using file selection area 3610. Nopath is selected in area 3650. Thus, decoded data corresponding to theselected filed will be stored to the root directory of device 10 c. Incommand entry area 3620, the command “IEXPLORE.EXE/FORM.HTM” is entered.The command IEXPLORE.EXE/FORM.HTM, when executed by device 10 c afterbeing decoded, will result in the FORM.HTM file being opened using thebrowser application program IEXPLORE.EXE.

Generate button 3600 is clicked on and a programming symbol 3110 isencoded. The encoded symbol may be printed. The encoded symbol 3110 maybe printed on a paper substrate 3700 including product literature 3706(FIG. 14). The product literature including symbol 3110 may be packagedin a package 3714 including a consumer product 3716 (e.g., a toaster asshown in FIG. 14). When a purchaser of a consumer product finds thepaper including product registration symbol 3110, he reads the symbol3110 using a bar code reader such as device 10 c as shown in FIG. 14.When product registration symbol 3110 is read, a product registrationform 3720 is automatically displayed on the display 4113 d of PC 4110 incommunication with device 10 c or a display 13 d of the reading deviceused to read the symbol 3110. The user fills out the form, clicks onsubmit button 3722 of the form 3700 and both user and productinformation are sent to the manufacturer's web server. System 3500 canbe made so that reconfigurable device 10 c displays form 3700 on display13 d of device 10 c. Also, system 3500 can be made to display form 3700on a PC 4110 in network communication with device 10 c as is illustratedin FIG. 14. In order to configure PC 4110 to display form 3700, aprogram module may be incorporated in PC 4110 which causes PC 4110 tolisten to a command broadcast by device 10 c to open file “FORM.HTM”stored on device 10 c utilizing a suitable browser application.

Data stream data generated by decoding of a symbol generated accordingto Example 7 is presented herein below in Table 7A.

TABLE 7A Reference No. Description Data Content 5010 Barcode 2 Version5012 EZConfig “ECFG” Signature 5014 Barcode Beep Flags 5016 Id 1 5018Barcode 1 Index 5020 Number of 1 Barcodes 5022 Data Version 2 5024 DataFlags COMPRESS | CYCLE 5026 Checksum 0x00273F6E 5028 Command“IEXPLORE.EXE/FORM.HTM” 5030 File #1 Path “/FORM.HTM” 5032 File #1 Size1872 5034 File #1 Data - CONTENTS OF FORM.HTM - 5030 File #2 Path“/PRODUCT.XML” 5032 File #2 Size 272 5034 File #2 Data - CONTENTS OFPRODUCT.XML -

EXAMPLE 8

System 3500 is used to generate a series of symbols 3110 a, 3110 b, 3110c, 3110 d, 3110 e, and 3110 f which, when read, result in an executable(.EXE) application file being stored onto reconfigurable device 10 c.Executable (.EXE) files may be too large to be encoded in a single barcode. In many cases, however, an application file may be stored on asingle bar code symbol. AZTEC symbols are useful in that they can bereadily made of any size. Thus, larger files can readily be encoded byincreasing the symbol size. In order to make a set of symbols 3100 whichwhen read results in an application file being stored in device 10 c,the file APPLICATION.EXE is selected for encoding using area 3610. Thepath data “/IPSM/APPLICATION.EXE” is entered in area 3650 so theapplication file will be stored into the IPSM directory of device 10 c.In area 3672 the number of symbols to be created in order to encode thefile selected is specified. In the example given, a six symbolreprogramming symbol set is selected.

When generate button 3660 is clicked, a six symbol reprogramming symbolset 3110 is encoded. The six symbol reprogramming symbol set 3110 a,3110 b, 3110 c, 3110 d, 3110 e, and 3110 f as shown in FIG. 15 may beprinted using a printer. One of the symbols, e.g., symbol 3110 a or 3110e as shown in FIG. 15 may be considered a “key” symbol. A key symbol maybe printed on a different substrate 3704 than the remaining symbolsprinted on substrate 3702. Distribution of the substrate containing the“key” symbol 3110 e may be controlled so that a user cannot store acontrolled formatted file to device 10 c unless he possesses thesubstrate including the “key” symbol 3110. The “key” symbol 3110 e maybe printed on an identification card, a coupon, an entertainment eventticket, for example. Whereas substrate 3702 may be made generallyavailable (e.g., posted on a website), access to substrate 3704 may becontrolled. For example, substrate 3704 including symbol 3110 e may bepostal carrier-mailed only to select users.

Data stream processing program module 5110 of reconfigurable device 10Cexecutes certain additional steps when processing data generated bydecoding a multiple reprogramming symbol set. Data stream processingmodule 5110 reads fields 5018, 5020 to determine which order to assemblethe various data streams corresponding each of the several data streams.Because device 10 c operating in accordance with module 5110 reads field5020 to determine the number of symbols in a symbol set and field 5018to determine the symbol number of the present data steam, it is seenthat the various symbol of a symbol set can be read in any order.Further, reconfigurable device 10 c operating in accordance with module5110 may be made to display feedback messages on display 13 d if certainsymbols of reprogramming symbol set is not read. For example, device 10c can be made to display the message “SYMBOL 5 of 6 NOT READ YET” if thereprogramming symbol set includes six symbols and symbol 5 is not yetread. In a further aspect of module 5110 in its processing of datastreams of a multiple symbol reprogramming symbol set, module 5110strips off symbol header 5080 when piecing together file data ofconsecutive symbols in a reprogramming step. For example, in a twosymbol reprogramming symbol set which encodes file data of a singlefile, a first symbol 3110 a may encode bar code symbol header 5080, filedata header 5090, and block 5034 corresponding to a first part of filedata. A second symbol of that symbol set, meanwhile, may encode bar codeheader 5080 and a second part of the file data but no data header 5090and no file header 5092. In processing data streams generated bydecoding the symbols, module 5110 discards bar code header 5080 of bothsymbols before attaching the file data of the second symbol to the filedata of the first symbol.

While multiple symbols can be printed on a paper, plastic or anothersubstrate, it is also convenient to non-permanently generate symbols ofreprogramming symbol set by projecting or displaying the symbols on adisplay such as a display of a PC 4110 or a portable device 10 c. All ofthe symbols of a multiple symbol reprogramming symbol set can bedisplayed on display 4113 d. All of the symbols further can be displayedat a common position such as position 6004 described in connection withFIG. 12 b of a display e.g., display 4113 d. It will be seen, therefore,that device 10 c does not have to be moved to read several symbols of areprogramming symbol set. Device 10 c can be “docked” on a stand 6002 ina fixed position relative to a display 4113 d and oriented to read barcode data or other symbol data at a certain position of display asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 12 b-12 d. Display 4113 d meanwhilecan be made to successively display at certain position 6004 each ofseveral symbols of a reprogramming symbol set so that a large amount ofdata (which may include formatted application file data) is rapidlystored into device 10 c without moving device 10 c without physicallyconnecting device 10 c to any other device, and without configuring anyradio or other standard communication port of device. A series ofsymbols non-permanently and successively produced at a fixed location isherein referred to as “a time-varying symbol.” A time varying symbol3110 TV is displayed on interface 3600 in the example of FIG. 7 h. Timevarying symbol 3110TV comprises the series of symbols 3110 a, 3110 b,3110 c, 3110 d, and 3110 e consecutively displayed.

Data stream data generated by decoding the symbols of the symbol setproduced according to Example 8 is presented in Table 8A herein below:

TABLE 8A Reference No. Description Data Content Barcode 1 of 6: 5010Barcode Version 2 5012 EZConfig Signature “ECFG” 5014 Barcode Flags Beep5016 Id 1 5018 Barcode Index 1 5020 Number of Barcodes 6 5022 DataVersion 2 5024 Data Flags COMPRESS 5026 Checksum 0x0511822 5028 Command“” 5030 File #1 Path “/IPSM/APPLICATION.EXE” 5032 File #1 Size 131295034 File #1 Data -FIRST PORTION OF APPLICATION.EXE- Barcode 2 of 6:5010 Barcode Version 2 5012 EZConfig Signature “ECFG” 5014 Barcode FlagsBeep 5016 Id 1 5018 Barcode Index 2 5020 Number of Barcodes 6 5034 File#1 Data -SECOND PORTION OF APPLICATION.EXE- Barcode 6 of 6: 5010 BarcodeVersion 2 5012 EZConfig Signature “ECFG” 5014 Barcode Flags Beep 5016 Id1 5018 Barcode Index 6 5020 Number of Barcodes 6 5034 File #1 Data-FINAL PORTION OF APPLICATION.EXE-Each of the six symbols include a barcode header 5080. However, onlyfirst symbol 3110 a includes data header 5090, and file header 5092. Allof the symbols are devoid of encoded command data field 5028. Interface3600 in Example 8 includes a displayed time-varying symbol 3100TV

EXAMPLE 9

A symbol 3110 is made which when read by device 10 c results in aformatted file being downloaded from a nonintegrated computer devicewhich remote computer (e.g., driver 4052, FIG. 6 a) may be a using FileTransfer Protocol (FTP). In order to make a symbol 3110 which when readresults in a file being downloaded into device 10 c using FTP, there isno need to encode any formatted file data into symbol 3110. Therefore,no selection need be made in area 3610 of screen 3600. In area 3620, auser inputs a command for encoding into symbol 3110. Referring toscreenshot FIG. 7 i, the command “TFTP.EXEFTP.HHP.COM/UTILS/UTILS.CAB/IPSM/AUTOINSTALL” is entered in area 3620.Decoding of and execution of the above command by reconfigurable device10 c causes reconfigurable device 10 c to install the formatted fileUTILS.CAB on device 10 c in directory “/IPSM/AUTOINSTALL” using FTP.Interface 3600 in the example of FIG. 7 i includes a displayedtime-varying reprogramming symbol 3110TV. In the specific example, theTFTP.EXE utility (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) is used to downloadthe .CAB file UTILS.CAB to the “IPSM/AUTOINSTALL” directory of device 10c from the “/UTILS” directory of the FTP server FTP.HHP.COM. Formattedfiles can also, in accordance with the invention, be downloaded fromremote (possibly Internet) directories using Hyper Transfer (HTTP) (SeeExample 2) or another appropriate protocol in the Transmission ControlProtocol/internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite of protocol (e.g., FTP, HTTP,TELNET, SMTP, SLIP, PPP). Skilled artisans will recognize that protocolsin the TCP/IP suite can be utilized to download files to portable device10 c from a nonintegrated device that is a common LAN with device 10 c(e.g., PC 4110, FIG. 6 a), or a device in communication with device 10 cvia an Intranet or the Internet.

Data stream data generated by decoding a symbol made in accordance withExample 9 is presented in Table 9A:

TABLE 9A Reference No. Description Data Content 5010 Barcode Version 25012 EZConfig Signature “ECFG” 5014 Barcode Flags Beep 5016 Id 1 5018Barcode Index 1 5020 Number Barcodes 1 5022 Data Version 2 5024 DataFlags -none- 5026 Checksum 0x00001F27 5028 Command “TFTP.EXEFTP.HHP.COM/UTILS/ UTILS.CAB/IPSM/ AUTOINST ALL”

EXAMPLE 10

Symbol 3110 is made which when read by device 10 c results in a WindowsRegistry File (.REG file format) being installed on reconfigurabledevice 10 c. In making a symbol 3110 which, when read, results in a .REGfile being installed in device 10 c, a user may input into area 3020 inthe screenshot example of FIG. 7 j the command“REGCE.EXE/IPSM/AUTOINSTALL/CONFIG.REG” Execution of the above commandby reconfigurable device 10 c results in the .REG file CONFIG.REG beinginstalled on device 10 c using the utility “REGCE.EXE.” In Example 10,file data corresponding to file “REGCE.EXE is encoded into symbol 3110.To the end that file data is encoded into symbol 3110, the file“CONFIG.REG” in directory “C:\HHP\EZCONFIG\” is selected using fileselection area 3110. For the path “C:\HHP\EZCONFIG\” to be selected, thedesignated file “\CONFIG.REG” must first be stored onto symbol generator110. Symbol generator 110 can be configured so that a path other than apath of symbol generator 110 can be designated using area 3610. Symbolgenerator 110 can be configured so that a path designating a local areanetwork directory or Internet directory can be designated. The WINDOWSregistry represents a common area to save configuration information forany WINDOWS program. .REG files can be used to change such configurationinformation (which may include such information as key repeat delays,user preferences, and other behavioral settings). It is useful to createa symbol 3110 which may be used to configure each of several devicessimilarly.

Data stream data generated by decoding a symbol 3600 made in accordancewith Example 9 is presented in Table 10A:

TABLE 10A Reference No. Description Data Content 5010 Barcode Version 25012 EZConfig Signature “ECFG” 5014 Barcode Flags Beep 5016 Id 1 5018Barcode Index 1 5020 Number of Barcodes 1 5022 Data Version 2 5024 DataFlags -COMPRESS- - 5026 Checksum 0x000003DC 5028 Command “REGCE.EXE/IPSM/AUTOINSTALL/ CONFIG.REG” 5030 File #1 Path “/IPSM/AUTOINSTALL/CONFIG.REG” 5032 File #1 Size 877 5034 File #1 Data “-BINARY CONTENTS OFREGCE.EXE -”

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith the preferred mode as illustrated in the drawing, it will beunderstood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail maybe effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the claims.

1. A system comprising: a broadcasting portable device having a displayand a keyboard, and a memory including a broadcaster kernel, abroadcaster file system, said broadcasting portable device operable in auser actuatable broadcast mode; at least one receiving portable deviceoperable in a user-actuatable receive mode of operation; wherein saidbroadcasting portable device, in said broadcast mode includes (a) kernelwithout file system; (b) file system without kernel; and (c) combinedkernel and file system data copying options; wherein said at least onereceiving portable device, in said receiving mode includes (a) kernelwithout file system; (b) file system without kernel; and (c) combinedkernel and file system options; and wherein said broadcasting deviceexecutes a verbatim copying of said broadcaster kernel to said receivingportable device, without executing a copying of said broadcaster filesystem when said option (a) kernel without file system is selected inboth of said broadcasting device and said at least one receiving device.2. The system of claim 1, wherein said keyboard and display of saidbroadcasting portable device are controlled using single-threadedcommands during said broadcast mode, and wherein said keyboard anddisplay are controlled in accordance with said main operating systemduring another mode of operation of said broadcasting device.
 3. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein said at least one receiving portable deviceis a plurality of receiving portable devices.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein said broadcasting device and said at least one receiving deviceeach includes an infrared transceiver, wherein said broadcasting deviceand said at least one receiving device are configured to copy datautilizing said infrared transceivers during a data copy session.
 5. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein said at least one receiving portable deviceis a plurality of receiving portable devices, wherein said broadcastingdevice and said plurality of receiving devices each includes an infraredtransceiver, wherein said broadcasting device and said plurality ofreceiving devices are configured to copy data utilizing said infraredtransceivers during a data copy session.
 6. The system of claim 1,wherein said at least one receiving portable device includes first andsecond receiving devices, wherein said first and second receivingdevices can be configured with different receive data selections so thatsaid first and second receiving devices are programmed differently whilesimultaneously receiving a same data broadcast from said broadcastingdevice.
 7. A method for using a portable device having a processor ICchip and main operating system, said method comprising the steps of:controlling said device utilizing single-threaded commands to generate abroadcast option menu user interface screen; selecting a data copyoption from said broadcast option menu user interface screen; copyingdata to at least one other portable device in accordance with saidselected option utilizing communication link; and subsequently bootingup said main operating system.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein saidsingle-threaded commands do not require that said main operating systembe running for execution.
 9. The method of claim 7, further includingthe step of controlling said communication link utilizing at least oneof OS free or single-threaded commands during said copying of said data.10. The method of claim 7, further including the step of controllingsaid communication link utilizing at least one of OS free orsingle-threaded commands during said copying of said data, wherein saidcommunication link is provided by a wireless link.
 11. The method ofclaim 7, further including the step of controlling said communicationlink utilizing at least one of OS free or single-threaded commandsduring said copying of said data, wherein said communication link isprovided by a wireless infrared link.
 12. The method of claim 7, whereinsaid copying data steps include the step of controlling a memory deviceutilizing at least one of OS free or single-threaded commands.
 13. Themethod of claim 7, wherein said copying step includes the step ofexecuting a verbatim memory content copying.
 14. The method of claim 7,wherein said broadcast option menu user interface screen displays akernel without file system option.
 15. The method of claim 7, whereinsaid broadcast option menu user interface screen displays a file systemwithout kernel option.
 16. The method of claim 7, wherein said broadcastoption menu user interface screen displays a combined kernel and filesystem option.
 17. A portable device comprising: a hand held housing; adisplay; a keyboard; an image sensor, said hand held housingencapsulating said image sensor; a control circuit having a memoryconfigured to capture frames of image data and decode decodable symbolstherein, and being configured to operate in a broadcast mode ofoperation; and a main operating system resident on said memory, saiddevice having at least one operating mode in which said control circuitoperates in accordance with said operating system; wherein said controlcircuit in said broadcast mode of operation controls said display andkeyboard utilizing at least one of OS free or single-threaded commandsto display a broadcast option menu screen user interface of saiddisplay.
 18. The portable device of claim 17, wherein said at least oneof OS free or single-threaded commands do not require that said mainoperating system be running for execution.
 19. The portable device ofclaim 17, further including a communication link, wherein said controlcircuit controls said communication link utilizing at least one of OSfree or single-threaded commands during said broadcast mode ofoperation, and wherein said communication link is controlled inaccordance with said operating system in another mode of operation ofsaid portable device.
 20. The portable device of claim 17, furtherincluding a wireless communication link, wherein said control circuitcontrols said wireless communication link utilizing at least one of OSfree or single-threaded commands during said broadcast mode ofoperation.
 21. The portable device of claim 17, further including awireless infrared communication link, wherein said control circuitcontrols said wireless infrared communication link utilizing at leastone of OS free or single-threaded commands during said broadcast mode ofoperation.
 22. The portable device of claim 17, wherein said controlcircuit is further configured to operate in accordance with a datastream processing module in which said control circuit locates formattedfile data encoded in a decoded symbol data stream, and stores saidformatted file data into a memory of said portable device.
 23. Theportable device of claim 17, wherein said control circuit is furtherconfigured to operate in accordance with a data stream processing modulein which said control circuit locates an OS understandable command andformatted file data in a decoded symbol data stream, and executes saidOS understandable command.
 24. The portable device of claim 17, whereinsaid control circuit is further configured to operate in accordance witha data stream processing module in which said control circuit locates afield in a decoded symbol data stream encoding a number of symbols in areprogramming symbol set.
 25. The portable device of claim 17, whereinsaid control circuit in said broadcast mode controls said memory to copydata from said memory utilizing at least one of OS free orsingle-threaded commands.
 26. The portable device of claim 17, whereincontrol circuit executes a verbatim memory content copying during saidbroadcast mode of operation.
 27. The portable device of claim 17,wherein said broadcast option menu user interface screen displays akernel without file system option.
 28. The portable device of claim 17,wherein said broadcast option menu user interface screen displays a filesystem without kernel option.
 29. The portable device of claim 17,wherein said broadcast option menu user interface screen displays acombined kernel and file system option.
 30. The portable device of claim17, wherein said portable device includes a motherboard a radio circuitboard and an interconnection assembly connecting said motherboard andsaid radio circuit board, wherein said interconnection assembly includesa pair of snap-fitting board connectors, and a connector sleeve disposedabout said snap-fitting board connectors so that shear forces relativeto said board connectors are opposed.
 31. The portable device of claim17, wherein said portable device includes a connector sleeve aiding aconnection between a motherboard and a radio circuit board therein.